My band, Absinthe, is sent to the middle of nowhere to get our shit together.It’s time to keep my cock in my pants, my head on straight, and to stay out of trouble.Hard to do when the landlord is Ember Skye.Long brown hair, eyes flecked with gold.One look and she has me, heart and soul.

Fire burns.But when I’m with this girl?There’s a heat I’ve never known before.

She’s a single mom carrying it all on her own with an ex on her heels.I want to help, be the man she needs.I’m all wrong for her.She knows it and I know it.But people change.Or do they?

I’ve run out of second chances.But we’re Ember & Ash.It’s time to fan this flame.

Excerpt:

“You can’t stay here,” I say, my voice shaky, because I know there’s no way I’ll be able to afford the reimbursement. I already spent a small chunk of the money Maryll gave me on this month’s bills.

With his back to me, his fingers expertly dancing over the keys as he plays the scales. I try not to notice the way his muscles bunch and tense under the fabric of his t-shirt.

“When was the last time you had this tuned?”

“I…uh…I don’t know.” I shake my head, knowing he’s trying to distract me. “Look. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but I’m sure you can find somewhere else to go.” Even as I say the words, I can hear the lack of conviction in them. I need the money.

The music stops, and he turns, straddling the piano bench. And when those gray eyes are on me again, my body betrays me, and I can feel the flush rising to my cheeks.

I try to fight it, the attraction, the heat, the pull, but it’s impossible. And I wonder if he feels it too, or if he has this effect on every woman. I have a feeling it’s the latter because I can’t read anything in those stormy eyes.

“No,” he finally says, his words absolute, like he’s used to getting what he wants. “I like it here.” Those gorgeous lips of his twitch up slightly. “I was worried that this place would be boring. But this could be fun.”

I scoff. “Fun?” That’s one word for it. Millie would find this entire situation hilarious. But I’m not Millie with her heart-on-her-sleeve attitude. I’m Ember – a woman who always has responsibilities.

And as I look into Ash’s eyes, I realize I don’t have a choice.

“Yeah, fun,” he says with a dare in his voice and a promise in his eyes.

A promise.

My track record with promises is fifty-fifty. And right now, I can’t handle another thing in my life breaking.

I have no choice but to try and make this work. Not just for me. But for Cadence.